Condiment dispenser



July 27,-1965 J. w. KUHN CONDIMENT DISPENSER Filed Dec. 29, 1964 United States Patent O 3,197,974 CQNDIMENT DlSPENSER .lohn W. Kuhn, 1101 23rd St., Pompano Beach, Fla. Filed Dec. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 421,802 11 Claims. (Cl. 222-131) This invention relates to a dispensing receptacle and more particularly to an improved condiment dispenser for granulated substances such as sugar, salt, pepper, and the like.

Salt and other condiments are highly absorbent and consequently will absorb moisture when exposed to damp air and will adhere to a damp surface. As a result, the moistened condiments clog the outlet of the dispenser. Such a condition exists especially in semi-tropical climates where the relative humidity often approaches the saturation point.

Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide an apparatus which overcomes the defects of prior condiment dispensers and retains condiments in a normally dry and free-flowing condition. Accordingly, the dispenser is particularly adaptable for use in kitchens despite being exposed to steam, on a boat despite the high humidity due to moisture in the air, and in semi-tropical climates where the humidity approaches the saturation point. 1

It is a further object of this invention to provide a dispensing apparatus which utilizes no moisture-absorbent material within or without the container to keep the condiments dry and free owing. Accordingly, there is no problem of accidentally dropping the condiment dispenser in water or having the absorbent material saturated with moisture due to high humidity.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a dispensing apparatus which has no moving parts. Accordingly, the dispenser is simple and easy to manufacture. The simplicity of the dispenser results in a lower manufacturing cost which can be quite important in the manufacture of relatively inexpensive items with a low margin of profit.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a condiment dispenser which has few parts and can be assembled easily. Furthermore, it will be appreciated the disassembly of the dispenser is likewise accomplished easily so that the dispenser can be readily cleaned in water. Without tiny holes in which water and/ or condiment particles can be trapped, the dispenser can be easily cleaned and dried.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide a dispensing container comprising a hollow body provided with a threaded neck having an opening bounded by an annular end wall; a delivery member having at its upper end portion a centrally apertured, annular flange Vseated on the end wall and a substantially downwardly extending, open-ended, tirst delivery tube integral with the ange; a screw cap comprising a skirt threaded on the neck, a centrally apertured top overlying the flange and holding it on the end wall, and a second delivery tube integral with and extending from the top and registering at its lower end with and seated upon the upper end of the rst delivery tube, the flange of the delivery member and the top cap partially defining a dead air insulating space; and a closure for the aperture in the cap comprising a body having a depending plug adapted to enter the aperture in the cap and an outwardly projecting flange having a downwardly projecting skirt seated upon the top of the cap.

It will be appreciated that the closure not only prevents moisture from entering the dispensing container body, but it also prevents dust and other unsanitary particles from being mixed with the condiment. Furthermore, it is an object of this invention to provide the cap with an 3,197,674 Patented July 27, 1965 FCIce uppermost or outer surface which is substantially flat so that the dispensing container can be inverted and supported on this substantially outer surface of the top. Furthermore,rit is also an object of this invention to provide a second dead air insulating space within the closure itself, defined by the ange and downwardly projecting skirt of the closure and the top of the screw cap.

It is also an object of this invention to make the lower end of the second delivery tube extend naturally below the upper end of the first delivery tube so that when the lower end of the second delivery tube is seatedon the upper end of the rst delivery tube, the delivery member, the screw cap, and hollow body will be biased into tight engagement.

It is still ar further object of this invention to provide a means by which a measured predetermined amount of condiment can be discharged from the container so as to prevent excessive or insuflicient seasoning. This feature is particularly benecial in relatively dark eating places, such as lighted by candle, whereV it is diicult to tell how much seasoning is being dispensed on the food. In order to achieve an appropriate pre-measured amount of seasoning, the irst delivery tube extends inwardly to a point near or in the vicinity of the bottom of the hollow body of the dispensing container. The amount Vof condiment which is dispensed in each operation is determined in part by the size of the opened lower end of the rst delivery tube and in part bythe distance at which the lower end of the delivery tube is disposed from the bottom wall of the hollow body. Accordingly, when the dispensing container is inverted, that portion of the condiment positioned above the opening and between the opening and the bottom wall of the hollow body will be dispensed through the rst and second delivery tubes.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a reliable dispensing container, the upper parts of which can be easily adapted to any type of hollow body.

These and other objects of this invention are more clearly depicted in the following detailed description having specic reference to the attached drawings in which the embodiments of the invention are shown, not to limit the scope ofthe invention in any respectV but so that the principles thereof might be more clearly demonstrated.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through the condiment dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through a condiment dispenser having a modiiied screw cap and closure;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional View taken through a condiment dispenser showing further modification in the closure, screw cap, and delivery members;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but having the closure removed and showing the dispenser in an inverted position;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectionall view of a condiment dispenser shown without the closure and having a still further modied screw cap and delivery member; and Y FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the lines 6 6 of FIGURE 1 and showing a transverse sectional plan view of the dispenser in its entirety with the condiment removed. A i

Referring now to thedrawings in detail, a condiment dispenser'l@ is shown broadly comprising a hollow body 12 and a dispensing cap portion 14. The hollow'body 12 of the condiment dispenser constitutes a receptacle for condiments 16 such as sugar, salt, pepper and the like. The hollow body is shown in this Vinstancemade of glass, although it may be made from any other suitable material such as plastic or the like. Furthermore, the container may be of any conventional design although it is preferably of the shape disclosed in FIGURE l. The hollow body 12 has a threaded neck 1S which is preferably threaded externally so as to detachably receive the dispensing cap portion 14. The threaded neckY 13 has an opening 20 extending therethrough and communicating with the hollowvbody 12. The opening 2li is bounded and defined by an annular end wall 22.

The dispensing cap portion 14 is preferably made of some non-corrosivematerial, such as plastic, and broadly comprises a delivery' member 24, .a screw cap 26 and a closureZS. TheV delivery member extends Within the hollow body 12 and comprises a` first delivery tube 30 having an annular ange 32 integrally attached to its upper end portion 34. By its very definition the first delivery tube has a tubular opening 35 extending axially therethrough thereby providing a central aperture in the annular fiange 32. The first delivery tube extends downwardly into theV hollow body to a position disposed a certain distance 38, shown in FIGURE 4, from the inner surface .40 of the base wall 42 of the hollow body 12. The lower end 44 of the first delivery tube is preferably outwardly flared so as to provide a mouth for ycatching that portion of the condiment disposed between the lower end 44 of the first delivery tube 30'and the inner surface 40 of the base wall 42 when the condiment dispenser is inverted.

The annular tiange 32 is seated on the annular end wall 22 defining `the opening 20 in the threaded neck 18and thereby holds the depending first delivery tube 30 fin a suspended position with thehollow body 1.2. .As illustrated in FIGURE l, the annular fiange Vis attached at the extreme upper end 46 of the first delivery tube and is` inclined upwardly and outwardly to itsV seated position on the annular 'end wall 22.4 It will be appreciated, however, that the annular ange could extend merely outwardly, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, and that it could bev attached'at a position slightly below the extreme upper end 46 of the first delivery tube, as illustrated in FIGURE y3l. Y

VThe screw cap 26 is designed to hold the delivery member in place by holding the annular flange 32 in a substantially immovable seated position on the annular end Wall 22. Accordingly, the screw cap comprises a skirt 48 threadedon the neck 18 of the hollow body 12 integrally connected to a top50 having a central vaperture Y52 therein. The top is positioned so that it overlies Y 56 registers with and is seatedrupon the extreme upper end 46 of the first delivery tube. As illustrated, the opening 58 preferably has a frusto-conical shape of diminishing cross-sectional area as the Yopeningextends upwardly to a flared seat 62 on the upper end 64 of the second delivery tube 56. The base of the frustoconical Vopening 58 is preferably contiguously aligned with Vthe upper Vend Iof the opening 36 extending through the first delivery tube 56. Y l

It isr within the scope of the inventionV to make the second Vdelivery tubeA 56 of such a length that its lower end 60 extends naturally'below the upper end 46 of the -first delivery tube 30 when the top 50 is in position to hold the flange 32 seated on the annular end wall 22. Since the lower end 60 of thersecond delivery tube registers with the upper end 46 of the first deliveryptube, it

Yis necessary to make therange 32 slightly iiexible to accorninodate the extra length of the second delivery tube. Consequently, manufacturing tolerances do not have to be too limited, and more important the resilient tendency of the ange 32 to return to its normal position causes thek first and second delivery tubes, and accordingly, the delivery member, screw cap, and hollow body, to be biased into tight engagement.

The inner portion 66 of the top Si) overlies the annular flange 32 and is disposed therefrom so as to partially define with the flange a first dead air insulating space 68. This insulating space is also defined by the second delivery tube in FIGURES l, 2, 4, and 5. In FIGURE 3 it will be seen that the first delivery tube rather than the second delivery tube also defines this space. A1- though the first delivery tube is substantially downwardly extending from the flange 32, it is within the scope of the invention to extend the first delivery tube above the flange, with thisl upper portion defining ythe dead air insulating space. Accordingly, the flange is attached at Vthe upper end portion 34V of the first delivery tube, but

at a position disposed from the extreme upper end 46. This dead air insulating space retards condensation of moisture on the inner walls of the first delivery tube de- Y fining the opening 58 and on that portion of the annuvlar liange 32 facing inwardly of the hollow body 12.

The closure 28 for the aperture 52 in the top 50 of the screw cap 26 comprises a body 72 having a depending plug 74 adapted to enter' the aperture 52 and an outwardly projecting flange 76 with a downwardly projecting skirt 78. The Vdownwardly projecting skirt is preferably circular and engages a corresponding preferably circular shoulder 80 formed integrally with the upper surface 82 of the top 50 of the screw cap. As illustrated in the various figures, the shoulder 80 can take numerous configurations and cany face outwardly or in- Vwardly. Essentially, however, the shoulder provides a means by which the closure is centered on the screw cap. It is within the scope of the invention to veliminate the shoulder and have the screw cap centered merely by the plug 74 itself. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the depending plug 74 is formed integrally with the body 72. It will be appreciated, however, that the plug could comprise a separate element which is detachably secured in the closure 2S.

It is preferable to have the outwardly projecting fiange 76 at least partially disposed from the top 50 of the screw cap 26 so that the flange 76 and downwardly projecting skirt 78 of the closure 28 and the top 50 of the screw cap 26 define a second dead air insulating space 'S4 which prevents moisture from accumulating around vS3 operatively connected to the outer surface and deiining a recess 99 therein. The shoulder 80 could be eliminated if the closure was eliminated. However, in order to make the screw cap usable with or without the closure, it is contemplated that the shoulder could in Yfact comprise part of the inner surface 88 as illustrated in FIGURE 2. It will be seen that when the condiment dispenser is inverted, the recess 90 provides an insulating air pocket for retarding the accumulation of `moisture around the flared seat 62 `on the upper end 64 of the ysecond delivery tube.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the dispensing cap portion comprising the delivery member,

4screw cap, and closure could be attached to any type of dispensing container which hasV a threaded neck and which will accommodate the kdepending first delivery tube interiorly thereof so that the lower end of the first delivery tube extends to a point within the vicinity of the base wall of the hollow body.

While a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated in the drawings and discussed above, it should be adequately clear that considerable modification may be made thereto without departing from the principles of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing should be considered in an illustrative sense rather than a limiting sense, and accordingly the extent of this invention should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A dispensing container for condiments comprising a hollow body provided with a th-readed neck having an opening bounded by an annular end wall; a delivery member having at its upper end portion a centrally apertured, annular flange seated on the end Wall and a substantially downwardly extending, openended, first delivery tube integral with the fiange; a screw cap comprising a skirt threaded on the neck, a centrally apertured top overlying the fiange and holding it on the end wall, and a second delivery tube integral with and extending from the top and registering at its lower end with and seated upon the upper end of the first delivery tube, the ange of the delivery member and the top of the cap partially defining a dead air insulating space; and a closure for the aperture in the cap comprising a body having a depending plug adapted to enter the aperture in the cap and an outwardly projecting ange having a downwardly projecting skirt seated upon the top of the cap.

2. The dispensing container defined in claim 1 wherein the second delivery tube has an upright frustoconical opening extending axially therethrough.

3. The dispennsing container defined in claim Z wherein the upper end of the second delivery tube has an outwardly ared seat.

4. The dispensing container defined in claim 2 wherein the first delivery tube has a tubular opening extending axially therethrough, the upper end of the opening registering and being contiguously aligned with the base of the frusto-conical opening of the second delivery tube.

5. The dispensing container defined in claim 1 wherein the depending plug is integrally connected to the body of the closure.

6. The dispensing container defined in claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the apertured top of the screw cap overlying the fiange comprises a substantially at outer surface and an inner surface operatively connected to the outer surface and defining a recess therein so that the dispensing container can be inverted and supported on the substantially -flat outer surface of the upper surface of the top.

7. The dispensing container defined in claim 1 wherein the ange of the delivery member is upwardly and outwardly inclined.

8. The dispensing container defined in claim 1 wherein the outwardly projecting ange of the closure is at least partially disposed from the top of the screw cap and wherein the flange and the downwardly projecting skirt of the closure and the top of the screw cap define a second dead air insulating space.

9. The dispensing container defined in claim 1 wherein the lower end of the depending second delivery tube extends'naturally below the upper end of the rst delivery tube so that when the lower end of the second delivery tube is seated on the upper end of the first delivery tube, the delivery member, the screw cap, and hollow body will be biased into tight engagement. Y

l 10. The dispensing container defined in claim 1 wherein the flange of the delivery member is upwardly and outwardly incl-ined, the second delivery tube extends upwardly from the cap with its lower end registering with and seated upon the upper end of the first delivery tube, and the annular ange is attached at the upper portion of the first delivery tube at a position disposed from its upper extreme end, and wherein the upper portion of the first delivery tube, the flange, and the top of the cap dene a dead air insulating space.

11. A dispensing container for condiments comprising a hollow body provided with a threaded neck having an opening bounded by an annular end wall; a delivery member having at its upper end an upwardly and outwardly inclined, centrally apertured, annular fiange seated on the end Wall and a downwardly extending, open-ended, first delivery tube integral with the flange; a screw cap comprising a skirt threaded on the neck, a centrally apertured top overlying the flange and holding it on the end wall and having a circular shoulder on its upper surface, and a depending second delivery tube integral with the top and registering at its lower end with and seated upon the upper end of the first delivery tube, the ange of the delivery member and the top and the second delivery tube of the cap providing a dead airrinsulating space; and a closure for the aperture in the cap comprising a body having an integral, depending plug adapted to enter the aperture in the cap and an outwardly projecting flange having a downwardly projecting skirt seated upon the top of the cap and centered by engagement with the circular shoulder thereon.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,332,476 3/20 Stough 222-455 RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSING CONTAINER FOR CONDIMENTS COMPRISING A HOLOW BODY PROVIDED WITH A THREADED NECK HAVING AN OPENING BOUNDED BY AN ANNULAR END WALL; A DELIVERY MEMBER HAVING AT ITS UPPER END PORTION A CENTRALLY APERTURED, ANNULAR FLANGE SEATED ON THE END WALL AND A SUBSTANTIALLY DOWNWARD EXTENDING, OPEN-ENDED, FIRST DELIVERY TUBE INTEGRAL WITH THE FLANGE; A SCREW CAP COMPRISING A SKIRT THREADED ON THE NECK, A CENTRALLY APERTURED TOP OVERLYING THE FLANGE AND HOLDING IT ON THE END WALL, AND A SECOND DELIVERY TUBE INTEGRAL WITH AND EXTENDING FROM THE TOP AND REGISTERING AT ITS LOWERR END WITH AND SEATED UPON THE UPPER END OF THE FIRST DELIVERY TUBE, THE FLANGE OF THE DELIVERY MEMBER AND THE TOP OF THE CAP PARTIALLY DEFINING A DEAD AIR INSULATING SPACE; AND A CLOSURE FOR THE APERTURE IN THE CAP COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A DEPENDENTING PLUG ADAPTED TO ENTER THE APERTURE IN THE CAP AND AN OUTWARDLY PROJECTING FLANGE HAVING A DOWNWARDLY PROJECTING SKIRT SEATED UPON THE TOP OF THE CAP. 